Di-(hydroxyalkyl) imidazolidinediones

ABSTRACT

New N-heterocyclic diols are obtained by an addition reaction of alkylene oxide with certain oligomeric compounds containing more than two hydantoin and/or benzimidazolone rings. The new diols are suitable for the manufacture of polyesters, polyurethanes, diacrylates and diglycidyl ethers, from which moulding materials having valuable thermomechanical properties can be manufactured.

Umted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,928,377

Habermeier Dec. 23, 1975 Dl-(HYDROXYALKYL) 3,684,774 8/1972 Merten .Q zoo/309.5 x IMIDAZOLIDI ED 3,726,895 4/1973 Habermeier et al...... 260/309.5 3,821,242 6/1974 Habermeier et al. 260/3095 [75] Inventor: Jiirgen Habermeier, Pfeffingen,

Sw1tzerland FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A signee: Ciba-Gei y Corporation, Ardsley, 7,311,577 8/1972 Netherlands 22 Filed; July 10, 7 Primary Examiner-Ethel G. Love Art F Lth .R.Hll 1 pp NO: 0 orney, Agent, or zrm u er A a [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 30, 1973 Switzerland 11053/73 New N-heterocyclic diols are obtained by an addition reaction of alkylene oxide with certain oligomeric 260/3095; 260/2 260/775 B; compounds containing more than two hydantoin and- 260/75 /883 R; 260/3092; lor benzimidazolone rings. The new diols are suitable 2 260/3095; 260/309-7 for the manufacture of polyesters, polyurethanes, di- [51] hit. Cl. C071) 49/32 acrylates and diglycidyl ethers, from which moulding [58] Field of Search 260/3095 materials having valuable thermomechanical properties can be manufactured. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, No Drawings DH HYDROXYALKYL) IMIDAZOLIDINEDIONES The present invention relates to new di-(hydroxyalkyl) compounds of oligomeric N,N-heterocyclic struc- 5 tures and to a process for their manufacture.

German Offenlegungsschriit 1,954,503 describes the hydroxyalkylation of cyclic ureides, such as parabanic acid or barbituric acid, and N,N-heterocyclic compounds with a ureide structure, such as hydantoin or dihydrouracil, by an addition reaction of alkylene oxides with these compounds. Belgian Pat. No. 744,846 also describes alkylene oxide addition products of compounds containing two N,N-heterocyclic rings.

It has now been found that an addition reaction of alkylene oxide with certain oligorneric compounds containing more than two N,N-heterocyclic rings gives, in good yields, the corresponding di-( hydroxyalkyl) compounds, which are new compounds and display, in comparison with the known di-( hydroxyalkyl) compounds of cyclic ureides, a more strongly heterocyclic character and, surprisingly, can be polycondensed with dicarboxylic acids to give polyesters having better thermo-mechanical properties.

The present invention relates to new di-(hydroxyalkyl) compounds of the general formula I wherein R, denotes in each case a hydrogen atom or the methyl, ethyl or phenyl group, and R denotes a hydrogen atom or, conjointly with R,, denotes the tetramethylene radical, A denotes a radical of the formulae wherein X, and X independently of one another each denote a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical with l to 4 carbon atoms, and U has the same meaning as U, or denotes a radical of the formula wherein Y, and Y independently-of one another each denote a hydrogen atom, an alkyl radical with 1-4 carbon atoms, or the phenyl group or conjointly denote the pentamethylene radical.

Preferably, in the Formula I, R, and R each denote a hydrogen atoms, A denotes the methylene or ethylene radical, U, denotes a radical of the formulae U, denotes a radical of the following formulae H c CH H c CH 3 a 3 3 l cc c-c -N N- .-N N- i I I -N N-CH2-N' N- I c II c c 0 II n o o and U2 denotes a radical of the formula Y. Y c""'c t t l l c ll Q wherein Y, and Y represent the methyl group or conjointly represent the pentamethylene radical.

The new di(hydro'xyalkyl) compounds of the Formula I are obtainecl'by an additionreaction, preferably in the presence of a catalyst, of two mols of an alkylene oxide of the formula III (III) N- ...N N-

\ C C II ll O H C CH H C CH /7 C C C 'C or I -'N N CH N N- C C II ll 0 O and U denotes a radical of the formula C ll 0 wherein Y and Y represent the methyl group or conjointly represent the pentamethylene radical, and to 1 add on to these compounds an alkylene oxide, preferably ethylene oxide.

Compounds corresponding to the Formula III, apart from ethylene oxide, are propylene oxide, butylene oxide, styrene oxide and cyclohexene oxide.

The addition reaction of an alkylene oxide of the Formula III with the compound of Formula II, which contains two NH groups, can be carried out in the presence of either alkaline or neutral catalysts. This addition reaction also takes place without catalysts. The reaction temperature in this addition reaction is, as a rule, between 0 and 200C; it is preferably raised, during the addition reaction, from about initially to about 120C.

The addition reaction can also be carried out under pressure, that is to say in an autoclave. The addition reaction is preferably carried out in solution and dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dioxane, halo- 4 genated hydrocarbons, water ormixtures of such solvents are preferentially used.

Suitable acid catalysts in the addition reaction are especially Lewis acids, such as, for example, All3, SbCl SnCl,,, FeCl ZnCl BF;, and complexes thereof with organic compounds.

Suitable catalysts with an alkaline action are above all tertiary amines, such astriethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, benzyldimethylamine, N,N'-dimethylaniline, and triethanolamine; quaternary ammonium bases, such as benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide; quaternary ammonium salts, such as tetramethylammonium chloride, tetraethylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethylammonium acetate and .methyltriethylammonium chloride; and also ion exchange resins having tertiary or quaternary amino groups; and also trialkylhydrazonium ,salts, such as trimethylhydrazonium iodide.

,The reaction can alsobe accelerated by the addition of other suitable catalysts, for example borax or alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, and above all by the alkali metal halides which have a neutral reaction, such as lithium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide and sodium fluoride.

The compounds of the Formulall can be prepared either by reacting, with the elimination of 2 mols of hydrogen halide, 1 mol of a compound of the Formula H U H hydrogen halide, 1- mol of a dihalogen compound of the Formula VI Hal-AU,AHal (VI) with 2 mols of a compound of the Formula VII H u H (VII) The'se condensation reactions are, as a rule, carried out at elevated temperatures between 20 and 200C, preferably between 50 and C, using in part a slowly rising temperature gradient between these val- 'ues. The reactions are carried out in water or organic solvents, for example dioxane, dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide. The hydrogen halide formed is either expelled at elevated temperatures by passing in nitrogen or, preferably however, is intercepted by neutralisation with corresponding bases. Examples of bases which can be'used are NaOI-I, K CO Na CO triethylamine, pyridine or dimethylaniline.

The reaction mixture is worked up in the customary manner by separating from the solution the halide which is formed and by subsequent removal of the solvent by distillation. The products thus obtained can be purified by recrystallisation, rinsing or extraction.

Compounds corresponding to the Formula IV are, on the one hand, benzimidazolone, tetrahydrobenzimidazolone and hexahydrobenzimidazoloneand, on the other hand, 1,1 -methylene-bis-(hydantoin) and its alkyl-substituted derivatives, such as, for example, 1,1 methylen e-bis-( 5,5-dimethylhydantoin 1 l..'-methylene-bis-( S-methyl-S-ethylhydantoin), 1,1 -methylenebis-( S-pro pylhydantoin) and 1,1 '-methylene-bis-( S-isopropylhydantoin In addition to compounds of the Formula IV, the Formula Vll also includes hydantoin and its alkyl-, phenyland cyclohexyl-substituted derivatives, such as, for example, S-methylhydantoin, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, -methy1-5-ethy1hydantoin, 5-isopropylhydantoin, S-phenylhydantoin and 5,5-pentamethylenehydantoin 1,3-diaza-spiro(4,5 )-decane-2,4-dione).

Examples which may be mentioned of suitable monohalogen compounds of the Formula V are the halogenoalkyl-substituted hydantoin derivatives such as 3-ch1oromethyl-5,5-dimethylhydantoin,* chloromethyl-S,5-pentamethylene-hydantoin, 3- bromomethyl-S,S-dimethylhydantoin, 3-(B-ch1oroethy1)-5 ,5 -dimethylhydantoin, 3(B-ch1oroethy1)-5- methyl-S-ethylhydantoin 3-( B-chloro-B-chlorocyclohexyl)-5,S-dimethylhydantoin and B-(B-phenylethyl)-5-isopropylhydantoin.

These monohalogen compounds can be prepared by known methods by reacting the corresponding known monohydroxyalkylhydantoins with compounds which introduce chlorine or bromine, especially with acid halides, preferably inorganic acid halides, such as SOC1 or SOBr The dihalogen compounds of the Fonnula V1 can be prepared, on the one hand, analagously to the monohalogen compounds of the Formula V, by reacting the corresponding known dihydroxyalkyl compounds with compounds which introduce chlorine or bromine, or, on the other hand, by reacting the 3-(B- halogenoalkyl) compounds of the Formula V with formaldehyde according to the process described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,404,096 and 2,417,999.

The following may be mentioned as suitable compounds of the Formula Vl: l,l'-methylene-bis-(3-B- chloroethyl-5,S-dimethylhydantoih 1, l '-methylenebis-( 3-B-bromoethy1-5 ,S-diethylhydantoin), l ,1 methylene-bis-(3-B-chloro-n-propyl-5,S-dimethylhydantoin), l, 1 -methy1ene-bis-( 3-B-chloro-n-propyl- S-isopropylhydantoin), l ,1 '-methylene-bis-(3-B- bromo-n-butyl-5,S-dimethylhydantoin), 1,1 '-methy- 1ene-bis-( 3-,B-chlorocylcohexyl-5 ,5-dimethylhydan toin) and 1 l '-methylene-bis-( 3-,8ch1oro-B-phenylethyl-5-isopropylhydantoin) as well as 1,3-bis-(B-chloroethyl)-benzimidazolone, l ,3-bis-(B-chloro-n-propy1)- benzimidazo1one,1 ,3-bis-( B-bromo-B-phenylethyl benzimidazolone, 1 l ,3-bis-( B-bromo-n-propyl)-5- methylbenzimidazolone, 1,3-bis-(ch1oromethyl )-benzimidazolone, 1 ,3-bis-(B-ch1oroethyl )-tetrahydrobenzimidazolone, l ,3-bis-( ,B-bromo-n-propyl )-tetrahydrobenzimidazolone, l ,3-bis-( B-chloro-B-phenylethyl )-tetrahydrobenzimidazolone and 1 ,3-bis-( B- chloroethyl )-hexahydrobenzimidazolone.

Some of the new di-(hydroxyalkyl) compounds of the Formula 1 can also be obtained, with elimination of hydrogen halide, by reacting certain compounds of the Formula 11, in which the terminal N,N-heterocyclic rings contain free 3-NH groups, with a monohalogeno-monohydroxyalkane having 24 carbon atoms in the molecule, preferably with the 1-ch1oro-2-hydroxyalkanes.

1n the purified state, the new di-(hydroxyalkyl) compounds are colourless, crystalline powders with melting points between 40 and 250C. The diols are readily soluble in solvents such as dimethylformamide, dioxane, acetone, ethanol and methanol and, for the most part, also in water. The di-(hydroxyalkyl) compounds according to the invention can be converted, by reaction with, for example, polycarboxylic acids or alkyl esters or halides thereof, into polyesters, or, by reaction with polyisocyanates, into polyurethanes, having very valuable mechanical properties from a technical point of view.

,ethers, or, by esterification with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, into the corresponding diacrylates, which are valuable resins and which can be processed into plastics having valuable mechanical properties.

PREPARATlON OF THE STARTING SUBSTANCES Example A Tetrahydantoin compound from 1 mol of l,1'-methylene-bis-(5,5-dimethy1hydantoin) and 2 mols of 3- chloromethyl-S,S-dimthylhydantoin A mixture of 134.1 g of 1,1 -methylene-bis-(5,5- dimethylhydantoin) (0.5 mol) and 193 g of 3- chloromethyl-S,S-dimethylhydantoin (1.05 mols) is ground' in'a mortar to a fine, homogeneous powder and is then poured into a laboratory stirring apparatus made of glass. 75.9 g of finely ground potassium carbonate (0.55 mol) and 800 ml of N,N-dimetl1ylacetamide (DMA) are added to the mixture. The suspension thus formed is intensively stirred at an internal temperature of 60C. After 1 hour at 60C, stirring is continued for 2 hours at C and for a further 2 hours at C. The solution is then filtered hot in order to remove potassium chloride and residues of potassium carbonate. The clear, faintly coloured solution is concentrated to dryness at 80C and is then dried to constant weight at 80C under 0.4 mm Hg pressure.

275 g of the crude tetrahydantoin compound are obtained as a light-brown, brittle, resinous .substance.

The substance is purified byrecrystallisation from dimethylformamide/isopropanol (mixing ratio 4:1). 240 (87.4% of the theoretical yield) are obtained of a colourless powder melting at 284.1C (Mettler FP 51; rate of heating 2C/minute).

Elementary analysis indicates:

Found: Calculated:

- 50.6% C 50.4% C 6.1% H 5.9% H 20.0% N 20.4% N.

The product can be further purified by recrystallisation from methanol. In this way very fine, colourless, fibre-shaped crystals are obtained, melting at 286.5-287 "C (Mettler PF 51; rate of heating lfC/minute). v

Elementary analysis indicates:

Found: Calculated:

50.26% c 50.36% c 5.88% H 5.88% H 20.31% N 20.43% N.

7 8 by the presence of the corresponding signals, that the tetrahydantoin compound has the following structure: Example C H C C H o O H C C H H C C H O O H C C H 3 3 3 I 3 3 3 3 3 /c c/ c c c .c c-c H- N\ N N N N N N N -H c CH c CH c CH c u n 2 n 2 n O N O Example B Tetrahydantoin compound from 2 mols of 3-chloroethyl-5,S-pentamethylenehydantoin and 1 mol of 1,1- methylene-bis-(5,5-dimethylhydantoin) A mixture, in 600 ml of dimethylformamide, of the A mixture of 3393 g of l,ll methylene bis (s,s following substances: 115.3 g of 3-(2'-chloroethyl)- dimethylhydantoin) (1.264 mols), 570 g of 93% 5 :P y n hydantom (0.5 mol), 67.5 g of strength 3-(2-chloroethyl)-5,5-dimethylhydantoin 1,1 'methylehe'bls'(55'dlmethylhydahtoih) (2.78 mols), 1921 g of finely powdered potassium mol) and 407g of finely powdered potassium carboncarbonate and 1,270 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) ate (0:3 Inol) surfed for hours at 1200' is stirred for 2 hours at 120C, the reaction taking place The mlxture worked up accordance Wlth Examwith a vigorous'evolution of C0 The reaction mixture P A, after the solution has, in addition, Previously Tetrahydantoin compound from 1 mol of 1,l-methyl5 lene-bis-(5,5-dimethylhydantoin) and 2 mols of 3-(2- chloroethyl)-5,S-dimethylhydantoin is then stirred for a further 4 hours at 130C. After been filtered, While at cooling, the reaction product is worked up in accor- 172.8 g (theoretical yield: 164.2 g) are obtained of dance with Example A and 811 g are obtained of a an ochre-coloured, crystalline powder, melting at colourless, solid, glassy substance, which still contains 283286C.

some DMF. (theoretical yield =728.8 g). This crude product is purified by extraction with This crude product is recrystallised from 50% isopropanol, by stirring the finely powdered substance strength ethanol (ratio of substance solvent: 1 3.5). f 2 hours i 500 1 f boiling isopropanol and then 508-2 g of a colourless ry l n Product are cooling and filtering, and drying the residue to constant obtained (69.7% of the theoretical yield), the melting weight at 90C/40 mm Hg. Peiht of which is 261 The elemehtal'y analysis for 146.3 g (89.1% of the theoretical yield) are obtained the tetrahydantoin Compound zs afi s s indicates: of a crystalline product with a pale ochre colour, which melts at 290292C. The elementary analysis for Found: Calculated: CSII-IMNBO8 i di t g 5 Found: Calculated: 194% N 194% 40 56.70% c 56.70% c 6.90% H 6.75% H The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum megacycles) shows, by signals at 8 1.32 1.48; 3.70; 5.00; The thin layer chromatogram indicates that the prod- 7.80 with an intensity ratio of 24 8 2 2, that the 4 uct is a single substance. The new tetrahydantoin comtetrahydantoin compound has the following structure: pound corresponds to the following structure:

H c CH H c cH 3 H3C/CH3 3 l/ 3 0 4 I c -c C c-c [C C\ N N H -N N-CH -CH -N N- 2 "'2 c C C il ll ll 0 e o H C H H C H H H Q\ \3I 3 O O\ O c -c\ cc c c cc H-N NCH CH -N N-CH -N NCH -CH -N N-H Example D Bis-(hydantoinylJ-henzimidazolone compound from 1,3-dichloroethylbenzimidazolone and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin A mixture of 380.0 g of 1,3-di-(2-chloroethyl)benzimidazolone (1.466 mols), 375.7 g of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (2.93 mols) and 223 g of potassium carbonate (anhydrous and ground; 1,61mo1s) in 4.4 liters of dimethylformamide is stirred for 2 hours at 120C and for 3 hours at 130C. The reaction mixture is then cooled to 90C and filtered and the filtrate is concentrated to dryness. The residue is dried to constant weight at 120C/0.5 mm Hg and 648.5 g (100% of theory) of crude product melting at 214.5C are obtained.

The crude product is purified by recrystallising twice from dimethylformamide (substance: solvent 1:2). 428 g of a colourless crystalline product (66% of theory) which has a melting point of 242243C, are thus obtained.

The elementary analysis for C H N O indicates:

Found: Calculated:

57.1071 C 57.01% C 5.88% H 5.92% H 19.10% N 19.00% N.

The new compound corresponds to the following formula:

Found: Calculated:

57.6% C 57.88% C 7.3% H 7.01% H 16.0% N 16.36% N PREPARATION EXAMPLES Example 1 Preparation of a diol from the tetrahydantoin compound of Example B 503.7 G (0.874 mol) of the tetrahydantoin compound prepared in accordance with Example B and 3 g of lithium chloride in 1,050 ml of dimethylformamide are warmed to C with stirring. A solution of 92.5 g (2.098 mols) of ethylene oxide in 525 ml of dimethylformamide is added dropwise to this suspension over the course of 2 hours. The temperature is then raised to C over the course of 3 hours, a clear, colourless solution being formed. After a further 4 hours at 100C, the solution is cooled to room temperature, neutralised (to universal indicator paper) with 50% strength aqueous sulphuric acid and concentrated to dryness and the residue is then dried to constant weight at l20C/O.4 mm Hg.

A light-brown, clear, glassy-brittle product is obtained in practically quantitative yield: 581.4 g (theory: 581 g).

The product is purified by recrystallisation from 1,150 ml of ethyl acetate. A colourless, free-flowing, fine crystalline product, melting at 166l68C, is ob- O O 3 3 H C -C C f-''C H 3 l 1 N- N C CH -'N N H H N\ c H 2 c H 2 N H 2 C C C 11 ll 11 O O 0 Example E tained in a 64.6% yield of pure product (375 g). The Tetrahydantoin Compound from 2 m 015 of 5 45 gel permeation chromatogram indicates, through the tamethylenehydamoin and 1 mo of 1,1, methylene presence of a single spot, the R, value of which at 0.09 bis 2 hl h l 5 h l s is not identical with that of the starting material, that a The following mixture of Substances in 500 m1 of smgle, pure substance has been obtained. Elementary dimethylformamide is reacted in accordance with Ex- 50 analysls mdlcates:

ample C: 84.3 g of 1,1-methylene-bis-[3-(2'-chloroethyl)-5-ethyl-5-methylhydantoin] (0.2 mol), 67.2 g of 5,5-pentamethylenehydantoin (0.4 mol) and 33.2 g of anhydrous, ground potassium carbonate (0.24 mol).

This mixture is stirred for 3 hours at C .and for 6 hours at C. The new tetrahydantoin is worked up and purified by the procedure described in Example C. Yield of crude product: 141 g (theory 136 g). Yield of purified substance: 74.3 g (53.8%of theory). Melting point 257-259C.

The elementary analysis for C l-1 N 0 indicates:

H C CH 0 O CH CH HO-CH -CH -N N-CH CH N Found: Calculated:

52.40% C 52.40% C 6.70% H 6.67% H 16.90% N 16.86% N.

The proton-magnetic resonance spectrum accords with the structure which follows, as also does the mass spectrum, which indicates the molecule ion at 664 (theoretical molecular weight: 664.7) and contains characteristic fragment ions:

H C CH O O CH CH 3 3 C C C-C N-CH2N N-CH2- CH2NV N CH2-CH2-OH 1 1 Example 2 Preparation of a diol from the tetrahydantoin compound of Example C 65.7 g (0.1 mol) of the tetrahydantoin compound 5 prepared in accordance with Example C are introduced treated for 2 hours at 120 C under 9 mm Hg pressllre' into a steel autoclave holding 200 ml, together with 0.5 3 (theory: 638-7 g) e tained 0f a clear, light g of lithium chloride and 50 ml of dimethylacetamide. rown res|nous product much sun comams d'methyl' 3 23f g af t; 2 z i 59 ml s g 'ilii s i s gurified by dissolving in 750 ml of acetone and emleare ena ean emixtureis eate, with stirring, for 5 hours at 150C. The initial pressure '0 Preclpltatmg by st'mng h solutlon 5 e of 5 atmospheres falls away to normal pressure over the g gg m ether l "l" 131 The p iffpcourse 0 approximately 1 hour. After the completion P a 60 our resmous mass, w i of the reaction, the solution is cooled to room temperaafter l gf l offfhe mixture of and P e pituiehand thedpH 1S fidJUStfiCl to 7.0 with 20% strength 5 d fzh ig m ffresth acitone. 12115 lsplution IS su p Ul'lC act and a small quantity of undissolved mate P E 0 ac e e areoa or minutes, ter IS filtered off. The clear solution is concentrated filtered to glve a clear solution and concentrated completely1 at 140? and the residue is dried to conp eiffi y 03 h stant weig t at 140 C under 0.3 mm Hg pressure. 77 g e P t en dried at mm The are obtained of a light-brown, solid substance (which resulting colourless, crystalline mass is finally pulversnll contains residues of dimethylacetamide) softening ised n dried to constant igh in a dessicator er at 104C (by Koflers method). 2 5- This diol can be further purified by reprecipitation colourless crystals melting at are Obtained and extraction. The pure substance corresponds to the (Mettlef FP fate 0f heating The following structure: elementary analysis gives the following result:

H H c CH H c H O 0 I 3 l/ 3 3 HO--CH --CH -N N-CH -CH N N c 2 cH2 N /N-CH -CH -OH u. H 2 1 ll Example 3 Found: Calculated: Preparation of a diol from the tetrahydantoin com- 2133315 223335 pound of Example A 17.66% N 17.60% N.

550.6 g (1.0 mol) of the tetrahydantoin compound prepared in accordance with Example A are stirred at C with 3.2 g of lithium chloride and 1,200 mi of stirred for a further 5 hours at C. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture is neutralised with a few drops of 20% strength sulphuric acid, filtered and concentrated completely at C and is The new diol corresponds to the following structure:

H C CH H .C CH H C CH H c at o o o a 3 \l l/ 3 C"-'C /C""C\ /CC\ HO-CH -CH -N \Q-CH -N N CH -N N...CH ...N N C H -CH -OH c Ii ii i i: o o o Example4 dimethylacetamide. A solution of 106 g of ethylene oxide (2.4 mols) in 600 m1 of dimethylacetamide is added dropwise to this suspension over the course of 1 hour, a clear. yellow solution being formed. The temperature of the reaction mixture is raised from 50 to l0O C over the course of 2 hours. The mixture is then 13 14 (0.673 mol) of the compound: containing three N- 57.8 G of crude product (99% of theory) with a softheterocychc r ngs, prepared in accordance with Examening point of 100C (Kofler) are obtained. 45.7 C1 of pie D, and'6.5 g'of lithiurn chloride in 2 l of dimethylpure product are obtained; the melting point of the formamide. The mixture is warmed to 50C while stirpure substance is 96-98C.

ring and is kept at thistemperature for 120 minutes. According to the H-NMR spectrum (in CDCl;,), the The mixture isthen brought to a reaction temperature structure of the new diol accords with the following of 100C over the course of 2 hours and is stirred for 5 formula:

1| ll ll Y HOCH CH N NCH CH N NCH --N NCH CH N NCH CH OH C C C C II II l ll 0 0 O 0 hours at this temperature. After cooling, the reaction APPLICATION EXAMPLES mixture is neutralised with a few ml of strength sulphuric acid, filtered and concentrated to dryness. The product obtained is then dried to constant weight at 100C/0.5 rnrnI-lg, 357 G of a glassy a (100% f Preparation of a copolyester from the diol prepared in theory) are obtained. accordance with Example 3, butanediol and dimethyl This crude product is purified by dissolving in 1 1 of terephthalate acetone; the solution is filtered and 5 l of diethyl ether are added to the filtrate. The solvent/precipitant mix- A mixture of 75 g of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) ture is separated from the precipitated product by de- (0.386 mol), 70 g of 1,4-butanediol (0.777 mol), 24.6 cantation. The product is taken up in 1 l of acetone and g f th diol f Exampl 3 (1 mOl relative the solution is concentrated to dryness. The product, and 0.045 g of tetraisopropyl orthotitanate is conmelting at 59C, obtained in this way in a 78.7% yield densed under an atmosphere of nitrogen and with slow (281.1 g) can be further purified by recrystallisati stirring according to the following temperature/pres- Example I from acetone, with the aid of active charcoal. Sure programme:

This gives 216 g of a practically colourless product melting at g0 31 1 hour at l60C/N /atmospheric pressure,

The elementary analysis for C H N O gives; 2 hours at 160C 245C/N, jatmospheric pressure, 1 hour at 245C/N /atmospheric pressure 18 mm 40 F d: g

30 minutes at 245C/N /18 mm Hg 0.5 mm Hg 56.2% c 56.58% c and 6.5% H 6.46% H 15.5% N 15.83% 1 hour at 265C/N /0.5 mm Hg.

The reaction product is then poured out under a The new diol accordingly has the following structure: N -atmosphere to cool on a sheet of metal.

C H O C H l 3 3 H C C C C C C H HO CH C H N [L CH H l l 3 -C /N-CH CH -N\ N-CH -CH -OH C C C g II ll 0 0 Exam le 5 A p The practically colourless, partly crystalline copoly- Preplarziiition of the diol from the tetrahydantoin of Exester thus obtained has the following values; amp e 51.3 G (0.075 mol) of the tetrahydantoin prepared Softening point (by Koflers method) 207C according to Example E, 60 ml of dimethylacetamide, ,5 Nitrogen j q measured 185% y 0.7 g of lithium chloride and 9.9 g of ethylene oxide are 18,8 ,131 I reacted in an autoclave holding 200 ml under the conof henol/tet ac l oet ane) ditions described in Example 2. The diol formed is also Glass "00" 1 l Glass transmon range 72-97C worked up and purified in accordance with Example 2. Glasstrunsition point C.

Comparison example An analagous mixture which, however, contains mol of 1,1-methylene-bis-[3-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-5,5-

dimethylhydantoin] instead of 10 mol of the diol of 5 with the copolyester according to Example I, and which 10 has the following properties.

The following table quotes, in addition, the data of a commercially available polybutylene terephthalate:

more after the addition of the sodium hydroxide solution and the, reaction solution is then cooled to C and the. vacuum is released and the mixture is then filtered by.-suction to give a clear solution. The filtrate is shaken with twice 100 ml of water and the epichlorohydrin solution is then separated and concentrated to dryness on a rotary evaporator at a bath temperature of 60C under a water pump vacuum. The residue is then dried to constant weight for a further 2 hours at 70C/0.3 mm Hg.

31.6 g (81.6% of theory) of a clear, yellowish, solid resin are obtained, which has a softening point (by Koflers method) of 65C. The epoxide group content Relative viscosity L62 1.70 2.2 c partly crystalline c 1 c c a amorphous Glass transition temperature C 95 59 24 If only 10 mol instead of 20 mol of the diol used in the comparison example are used, a copolyester with a glass transition temperature of only C is obtained.

of the new epoxide resin is 2.0 equivalent/kg (88.8% of theory). According to analytical data, the product obtained corresponds to the following structure:

C H cz s H OCH CH N NCH CH N N CH N NCH CH N NCH CH O l 2 2 I CH c c c c CH 2 I I I n I CH 0 0 0 0 CH l I 2 CH Example H I claim:

Preparation of the diglycidyl ether from the diol prepared in accordance with Example 5 38.6 g (0.05 mol) of the diol prepared in accordance with Example 5 are dissolved at 90C in 138.9 g (1.5

mols) of epichlorohydrin with the addition of 0.35 g of 50% strength aqueous tetramethylammonium chloride solution and the mixture is stirred at this temperature for 1 hour. By applying a vacuum, an azeotropic recycling distillation is then set in progress in such a way that, with vigorous stirring of the reaction mixture and maximum recycle of epichlorohydrin, a reaction temperature of 5 l6lC is maintained. 9.6% strength aqueous sodium hydroxide solution is then added dropwise over the course of 1 /2 hours. The water formed in the reaction and the water acting as solvent for the sodium hydroxide solution and the catalyst is continuously removed from the batch by azeotropic distillation and is discarded. Distillation is continued'for 5 minutes 1. A di-(hydroxyalkyl) compound of the formula I 13 U denotesadivalent residue of the formula {H3 x x x x a I 3 I n v; a a l. I

C c 1 F A -N p "CH 'N NY... I a I v a IO 7 I N CH N\ N- i J 6 c (1 O 0 II ll 0 0 wherein X and X each denotes hydrogen or an alkyl and U2 denotes a residue of formula with l to 4 carbonatoms, and U has the same meaning as U or denotes a residue of the formula Y Y 1 2 Q r O c C I I l l -N N- \c/ i. ll o 0 wherein Y and Y each denotes hydrogen, an alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms or phenyl or together denote herein 1 and 2 each represents methyl or together pentamethylene. represent pentamethylene.

2. A di-(hydroxyalkyl) compound according to claim 3. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 1, wherein in the formula R and R each denotes hyof the formula H C CH CH CH H C CH CH CH O y 4 C\ C-C c-C\ c...c\ HOCH2-CH N N-CHQ-CH l-N N-CH2-N N-CH2CH N N-CH -CH -OH c C c c 2 2 ll ll drogen, A denotes methylene ethylene, 1 denotes a 4. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 divalent residue of the formula of the formula H HC cu HCCH H l t 2; ll 

1. A DI-(HYDROXYALKYL) COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA
 2. A di-(hydroxyalkyl) compound according to claim 1, wherein in the formula R1 and R2 each denotes hydrogen, A denotes methylene or ethylene, U1 denotes a divalent residue of the formula
 3. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 of the formula
 4. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 of the formula
 5. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 of the formula
 6. Di-(hydroxyethyl) compound according to claim 1 of the formula 